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there was never a campus celebration to match that.

All of that was fun for Vince Dooley. Shutting out Bear Bryant was almost unheard of in that era. Being an Auburn graduate, the circumstances had to bemuse Dooley; but they also worried him.

He enjoyed the celebration but knew that it would be difficult to get his team’s attention for the next game, which was with Ole Miss in Oxford. In those days—for games in Oxford—the Bulldogs bussed to the Atlanta Airport, flew to Memphis, and then bussed to a hotel near the Ole Miss campus, usually Tupelo. Then they bussed to the game on Saturday. It was an exhausting travel routine.

Ole Miss had a record of 3-2 at that point but would finish 5-6 while Georgia went on the win the SEC championship. The Bulldogs lost to Ole Miss, 21-17. The bus ride to Memphis, the flight to Atlanta, and the bus trip to Athens made that one of the most forgettable weekends in Georgia football history.

The victory over Texas 2 weeks ago, has gotten the most attention for a Georgia game in some time. A win over a quality opponent that fielded some very talented players linked with a program, which has overthe- top tradition and image, added to the aurora that Athens awakened to following Sunday morning.

The national media just couldn’t get enough of the way Georgia managed victory, highlighted by the onside kick—because it worked. Kirby was the first to note how likely he would have been castigated if it had not gone his way.

On the field at the end of the game as victory was secure, his mother, Sharon, said, “What would Sonny Smart [Kirby’s late father] say about that? ‘Son, have you lost your mind?’” The Bulldog coach is far from a riverboat gambler, but with seasoning, he has a feel for the timing to pull off such a caper that has been the talk of the state this week.

Calm and measured on the sideline, kicker Peyton Woodring was basking in the glory that permeated Dooley Field that Saturday night. He was as relaxed as he could be leading up to his performance, which will go down in Bulldog history as one of the biggest plays ever between the hedges.

He had his poker face on; he was prudent and purposeful. He had practiced the kick all week. He was up for the memorable moment. We should bronze his shoe.

And while we are at it, maybe we should bronze that haunting and momentous weekend. After trouncing Charlotte last weekend, now on to “Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate!” Bring on Tech!